Horses- One of My Least Favorite Animals

As some of you may know, I have no love for horses.  I refer to them as hay-burners, or soap factory material.  I apologize to any of my horse loving blog friends.

Let me list the reasons I hate horses:

1. When I was sophomore in high school, my friend and I were hanging out at the local mini-golf course.  The folks who owned the golf course had recently purchased a horse from a family about 3 miles down the road.  Later that Sunday afternoon, my friend Alyce and I were going to take the horse for a ride.  They put the strap thingys around its head and gave us the reins.  Alyce and I got on and were going to ride bare back.  The first thing the miserable old nag did was to buck  Alyce off its back, the reins flew out of my hands and around the front of the horse.  I hung on for dear life, with my arms around its neck, and the horse took me on wild ride back to its original owner.  The golf course kids followed by car, laughing at the site of me on a runaway horse!  I was never so scared in my life; my biggest fear being: the horse would trip over the reins that were precariously dangling in front of it.  I was sure I was going to die!!!  
2. Our senior year, the future Mister and I decided to go horse back riding with saddles and everything.  He assured me they were well behaved horses, as they were trail horses.  In my opinion-- the worst kind of horse.  But back then, what did I know?  We each got a horse, and rode the paths through the woods.  The miserable old nag that I was on, decided she didn't want me on her back any more, as we wound through the woods, every tree that she could get near, she would try to scrap my leg against the tree.  I left that experience with bleeding legs.   
3. Did I learn from those first two experiences... oh heck no!!!  I think I was out of high school when a group of us went riding; again trail riding.  This time I knew about trail horses, held the reins tight and kept it in the middle of the path.  No scraping my legs this time.  All went well, until, the miserable old nag saw the barn.  There was no stopping it!  Taking off lickety-split towards the horse barn.  It never slowed down as it entered the door!!  I had to duck in order not to be decapitated!!  I now have learned my lesson.  No more horse riding for me.  
4. The last and (trust me) final experience.  A local family was having an 'olden days' exhibition. Our family and another family took our kids to this exhibition.  All was going well, I was enjoying the gardens, and flowers, while our kids were having fun on hay rides, and field demonstrations.  My friend wanted to go into the horse barn to look at the other horses that were not being used for the demonstrations.  We got to the stables, and my friend said,  "Look, that horse hates you!  Its nostrils’ are flaring and its eyes are glaring at you."   The large black horse looked like it was posessed !!  "Oh I know, horses hate me," I responded.  If the miserable old nag could have gotten loose, I know it would have trampled me.  

Thirty years have passed since my last encounter with a horse.  That record is about to change.  My granddaughter has become quite an equestrian.  She choose to stay in Northern Minnesota this summer, instead of being with her mother and my son who live in 'the cities'.  Why?  Well a horse named Brandy held her there.   

She worked with her horse, with the help of her dad's sister all summer;  Learning riding skills and maneuvers.

The second weekend in August, she entered herself and Brandy in the County fair competition.  I would have loved to have been there, but a nine hour drive was out of the question.  We just couldn't make it work out.   Hopefully, we can get there next summer to see her compete.  

She earned a ribbon and gained lots of experience as to what the judges are looking for, to work on for next year.  I am so proud of her for finding a dream, and making an effort to make that dream come true.

And that's the way it is...........................................